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Highlanders lose another player north

Gareth Evans on the charge against the Lions

Highlanders loose forward Gareth Evans has signed with the Hurricanes for the next two years.

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The 25-year-old will join the defending Super Rugby champions after spending the past four seasons in Dunedin.

Evans said he was excited about the opportunity to play all of his rugby in his home region.

“I was schooled in the Hurricanes region, my brother played for the club, and my family are nearby in the Hawke’s Bay, so there is a natural connection there.

“I’ve heard great things about the environment at the Hurricanes and the club’s results over the past few seasons speak for themselves. I’m already looking forward to getting stuck in to the preseason for the 2018 season.”

Evans shifted south to attend Otago University in Dunedin in 2010 where he quickly earned selection for the Otago provincial side. On the back of consistent form earned his first Super Rugby contract, with the Highlanders in 2014.

Over the past four years he’s clocked up 43 Super Rugby matches and helped the Highlanders to their first title in 2015.

Evans’ older brother Bryn played 25 matches for the Hurricanes between 2009 and 2011, and was capped twice for the All Blacks as a lock against France in 2009.

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Nickers 19 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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